Beauty vs Beast: Man Made Woman
Monday, March 7, 2016 at 12:31PM 
Jason from MNPP here, hoping y'all have by now nursed your Oscar hangovers from last week, whether literal or figurative, and are feeling at least somewhat happy about what won (or maybe what didn't win - no judgment here) this year. I go into the show as cynical as a storm cloud every year but there was a long stretch in the middle of the show, as Mad Max swept up everything in sight like one of its desert twisters, where I was making many happy noises, and that's as good as it ever gets.
But my happiest noise of all issued forth (kind of an ecstatic coo, you might call it) at the night's biggest surprise, which our friend Manuel gave good love to right after the show -- Ex Machina's out-of-nowhere win for Best Special Effects over a crowd of popular behemoths. Those gears glowing and shimmering inside Ava's mid-section were low-key, gorgeous movie magic, and there's one image in the film (of a robot's self-abuse) that I won't be forgetting any time soon.
That said it seems time to finally place the Woman against her Maker here in our "Beauty vs Beast" series; I'd have nominated both of these actors for their performances myself, so this will contest of ours have to suffice...
It's been a couple of weeks since our last edition, which faced off the Witches of Oz in honor of the release of The Witch, but I don't know about you - I still haven't stopped thinking and talking about The Witch. Anyway as for Oz it was a blow-out for her beautiful wickedness herself - The Wicked Witch of the West walked away with over 80% of your vote! Take that, goody-two-shoes Glinda. Said Yavor (sharing the sorts of factoids that make TFE great):
"Nicole Kidman says that watching the WWOTW was what first made her want to act."
Reader Comments (11)
Let's be honest: I voted Team Ava based on the actual movie, but I am 100% Team Oscar-as-Nathan.
Jason, wow, you gave us a good one this week! I have to say, I'm at a stalemate--both actors and characters are sublime. I just cannot, I just CANNOT.... Oscar should have been nommed for Best Actor and Alicia should have been up for Best Actress. Sigh. Can't wait to see what the tote board comes up with on this cinematic duel!
Team anti-rape avenger every time. (As opposed to team rapist creator). We shall not get lost in Isaac's dreamy pecks.
I'll add that I like how this one actually seems tied to the original beauty vs beast theme, although who is which is part of the film's riddle.
Nat I posted on facebook my fave Atonement shot,hope you get it.
https://www.facebook.com/
Wow-this was difficult, but I cannot deny Oscar Isaac in any incarnation, even sociopath.
Hardest one ever! I just can't...
mark -- that's not until next week so you'll have to remind me then with an actual link as there are lots of "mark"s :)
okay i shall.
Ava vs. Nathan is a true "Beauty vs. Beast" but which is which?
Nathan is a selfish prick who likes to screw with his employees minds and discard them. Naturally I prefer Ava to him. (and I don't care if he can bust a dance move).